Capacity Reached: ‘Malaysia-Penang Intercultural Understanding Training’ Updated 11/27 at Noon
Here is the video of the first briefing→ video of the October 16 briefing session
From this fiscal year, we will conduct a new “Malaysia-Penang Cross-Cultural Understanding Training” for university students who belong to member universities of the University Consortium Kyoto.
Features of this training
★ At Universiti Malaysia Science, you will receive lectures in English on culture, history, and ethnicity alongside local students to deepen your interactions with them.
★ With support from local students (buddies), you will visit refugee centers and government offices in Penang to conduct fieldwork. On the final day, students will present in English what they have learned in Penang.
★ At CEMACS, the marine center of the University of Science Malaysia, observe plants and organisms living in Penang’s seas and learn about marine research and SDGs activities.
★ We visited local Japanese companies and had local employees talk about the challenges and rewards of working overseas, followed by a Q session. We also offer factory tours.
★ Based on lectures taken at university, participants explore Georgetown and the city center, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in groups. Challenge yourself in a puzzle game targeting Penang Island.
★ Breakfast is served at the hotel, and lunch is served by tasting four types of cuisine (Nyonya, Chinese, Indian, and Malay), learning about diverse food cultures.
★ For dinner, we will guide you to several nearby hawker centers (food stall villages) and night markets, so you can enjoy Malaysia’s national cuisine safely and affordably.
★ Two staff members from the university consortium will accompany you from the start to the end of your trip, so even students who are new to overseas can participate with peace of mind.
Recommended for people like this
◆ People who want to make friends overseas
◆ For those who want to experience Malaysian culture, ethnicity, and history by experiencing different cultures
◆ For those who are not confident in their English but want to converse in English and interact with local students
◆ For those who want to visit local Japanese companies
◆ For those new to overseas training (pre- and post-training sessions will be provided!) ）
◇ If you want to interact with students from other universities in Kyoto, please join us!
◇ Graduation year students considering overseas trips as graduation trips are also welcome!
The charm of Penang
Penang, Malaysia is also very safe, ranking fourth in Southeast Asia after Singapore. Also, with prices extremely low and the yen trending weaker these days, lunch and dinner can be enjoyed for about 300 to 500 yen—about one-third of Japan’s. Malaysia is home mainly to three ethnic groups: Malay, Chinese, and Indian, but the people are very friendly and many are Japanophiles, so you can stay here with peace of mind. English is used as a semi-official language after Malay, and since Penang attracts tourists from all over the world, English is widely used in almost all public places, including convenience stores and supermarkets. Penang’s climate is very mild, with mornings around 25°C and afternoons around 30°C, making it very comfortable. From November to March, rainfall is low, making it the best season to visit.
| Date and Time | March 2, 2025 (Sun) ~ March 11, 2025 (Tue) 8 nights 10 days departing Kansai Airport with Malaysia Airlines |
| Fees | 300,000 yen ~ 350,000 yen (includes accommodation, training fees, airfare, fuel surcharge, and airport taxes) * Airport taxes and other fees may change. Please finalize the fees at the end of December and pay the remaining balance. |
| Training Venue | University of Science Malaysia (USM), CEMACS (Centre for Marine Science), and others |
| Accommodation | 3-star hotel inside Georgetown (2-3 guests per room) *Separate for men and women Examples: Hotel Neo+, The Gallivant Hotel, Travelodge Georgetown, Cititel Express, Hotel Sentral Georgetown, etc. *Hotel details will be decided two months before departure |
| target | Students enrolled in member universities of the University Consortium Kyoto (including those in their graduation year) ・University and graduate students ・Junior College Students |
| Additional capacity | |
| Minimum number of drivers | 8 people |
| Deadline | Applications |
| How to Apply | *As the training start date is approaching, cancellations after application are not allowed*. |
| Main training content | ・Attended English lectures at Universiti Malaysia Science and interacted with local students *All lectures are conducted in English, but since they are in simple English, having English skills equivalent to a high school graduate is sufficient. ・Visits to local Japanese companies, social gatherings with local employees, and factory tours ・Programs that allow you to explore World Cultural Heritage sites and experience a multicultural, multiethnic, and multilingual society ・We will conduct pre- and post-training sessions five times: 11/20, 12/18, 1/15/, 2/19, and 3/19. (Online participation available 17:30-19:30) (※ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will hold an online seminar on safety management measures on Wednesday, January 22, from 16:00 to 17:00.) ） |
| * About overseas travel insurance | Basically, you will be required to purchase AIG Insurance’s overseas travel insurance from HIS (additional cost is required). AIG is available 24 hours a day in Japanese and provides local support. In the unlikely event of an accident, injury, or illness in the field, the staff of the University Consortium Kyoto will respond with support from the HIS Kuala Lumpur Branch. AIG Damages: https://travel.aig.co.jp/ AIG Support: https://travel.aig.co.jp/ota/service |
sponsorship
(Public Interest Incorporated Foundation) University Consortium Kyoto International Business Department [Travel Agency] H.I.S. Educational Travel No.2 Office
itinerary
| date | time | schedule | meal |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2 (Sun) | 07:30 09:55 15:55 19:00 20:00 |
Gather at Kansai Airport ✈ By air, to Malaysia After arriving at Kuala Lumpur Airport, Transfer (Guided to airport food court: Dinner on your own) Departure from Kuala Lumpur Airport Arrive 🚌 at Penang Airport: Transfer private car to hotel and check in [Overnight in Penang] |
Morning: × Lunch: In-flight meal Evening: × (Snacks on board) |
| March 3 (Mon) | 09:00 09:30 10:30 12:00 14:00 16:00 |
🚌 Depart by private car (accompanied by local student buddy) Universiti Malaysia Networking Event Campus Tour Lectures on Malaysian Geography, History, and Refugee Studies Lunch at the restaurant Explore Penang city and visit the City Hall and Tourism Bureau. To the hotel [Stay in Penang] |
Morning: 〇 Day: 〇 Evening: × |
| March 4 (Tue) | 09:00 12:00 14:00 17:00 |
🚌 Depart by private car (accompanied by local student buddy) Visit to the Refugee Learning Center with a local buddy and Queens Bay Mall Lunch at the restaurant Lectured on Malay ethnicity, culture, and diversity at Universiti Malaysia Science To the hotel [Stay in Penang] |
Morning: 〇 Day: 〇 Evening: × |
| March 5 (Wed) | 08:30 12:00 13:00 18:30 |
🚌 Depart by private car for a tour of Georgetown (multi-ethnic, multicultural, and historical training) ★ with bilingual guide (Penang Hill, street art, Babañonya Mansion, Klangerty) Lunch at a restaurant along the way Explore Georgetown in a group To the hotel [Stay in Penang] |
Morning: 〇 Day: 〇 Evening: × |
| Thursday, March 6 | 09:00 10:00 12:00 15:30 16:00 17:00 |
🚌 Departure by private car Travel by boat from Teluk Bahang Jetty (or Batu Ferringi) CEMACS Mangrove Tour (Nature Conservation Learning), Lunch, marine plastic survey (SDGs learning), CEMACS facility tour Travel by boat from Teluk Bahang Jetty (or Batu Ferringi) Private Car to Hotel [Overnight in Penang] |
Morning: 〇 Day: 〇 Evening: × |
| March 7 (Fri) | 09:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 |
🚌 Departure by private car Japanese Company Visits: Sumilaber Tour, Interaction with Local Employees, Factory Tour Lunch at the restaurant Experience and interact with Malay villages at Kampong Agon (rural experience) To the hotel [Stay in Penang] |
Morning: 〇 Day: 〇 Evening: × |
| March 8 (Sat) | Self-Improvement Day Optional Tour or Penang World Heritage Exploration [Overnight in Penang] |
Morning: Yes Daytime: × Xi: × |
|
| Sunday, March 9 | Self-Improvement Day Optional Tour or Penang World Heritage Exploration [Overnight in Penang] |
Morning: Yes Daytime: × Xi: × |
|
| March 10 (Mon) | 09:00 12:00 14:00 17:30 20:35 21:35 22:40 |
🚌 Departure by private car Final presentation by Japanese students and presentation of completion certificates (accompanied by buddies) (Lunch individually around the university) 🚌 Tour of Penang Island by private car (dinner at the food court individually) 🚌 Traveling to the airport by private car Departing from Penang Airport After arriving at Kuala Lumpur Airport, transfer Departure from Kuala Lumpur Airport [Onboard Stay] |
Morning: Yes Daytime: × Evening: × (light meals on board) |
| March 11 (Tue) | 05:40 | Arrival at Kansai Airport, customs clearance, dismissal ~Thank you for your hard work~ | Morning: In-flight meal |
*Please note that the schedule may change depending on local circumstances.
[About Optional Tours]
★ World Heritage Penang City Sightseeing: https://activities.his-j.com/
★ Penang Hill and Gokurakuji Temple Visit: https://activities.his-j.com/
★ Peranakan Mansion and Georgetown World Heritage Tour (including Tri-Shaw ride): https://activities.his-j.com/
*In addition, as introduced on the website, various optional tours are available for an additional fee.
*If you have any questions or inquiries, please feel free to contact us at the contact information below.
Inquiries
[University Consortium Kyoto, International Business Department, contacts: Murono, Tsuruyama, Kawachi]
Inside Campus Plaza Kyoto, down from Nishinotoin-dori Shiokoji, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8216
Phone: 075-353-9164 (Tue-Sat 9:00-17:00, closed Sundays and Mondays)
Email: kokusai■consortium.or.jp (Please replace ■ with @ when sending.) ）
For information about Penang, click here.
◆ Universiti Science, Malaysia
URL:https://www.usm.my/
◆ USM Campus Tour 2020 (English explanatory video on USM campus)
URL：https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQSrzpcScEo
◆ CEMACS (Marine Research Center)
URL：https://youtu.be/uWkZKa8ei9E
◆ Malaysia Penang Tourism Board
URL：https://www.tourismmalaysia.or.jp/area/penang_01.html
◆ Penang Digital Brochure
URL：https://www.tourismmalaysia.or.jp/pamphlet/index.html
